Outrage and new questions after PM Najib cleared in scandal

Malaysia’s official explanation of the $ 681 million that ended up in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal bank account — it was an entirely proper gift from friends — has triggered derision and fresh questions in a country already well- used to allegations of graft.

On Tuesday, Malaysia’s Najib- appointed attorneygeneral cleared the premier of wrongdoing in a scandal that has gripped the nation, declaring the money was a “personal donation” from the Saudi royal family.

The announcement capped months of evasion by Najib on the source of the money and apparently laid to rest any threat of prosecution by the Malaysian authorities.

But Malaysia’s opposition, anti- graft activists and social media users pounced on the perceived implausibility of the unexplained Saudi largesse and alleged a government whitewash.

The Saudis themselves have not helped the situation, with The Wall Street Journal quoting a Saudi official saying the kingdom’s government had no knowledge of the donation, adding such a royal gift would be “unprecedented”.

Senior opposition figure Lim Kit Siang called the episode a “high- water mark” in Malaysia’s well- documented history of government corruption and impunity.

“I cannot think of another case in the nation’s history where the attorney- general’s decision has been greeted with more skepticism, outrage and scorn,” he said.

Najib, 62, has struggled to explain the payment since it was revealed in July.

He at first hotly denied it, but his government later acknowledged the payment.

The revelation was particularly explosive because Najib already faced allegations that similar amounts were missing from a state- owned company he founded.

Malaysian social media roiled with derision on Wednesday. Najib’s Facebook page and other sites filled with derogatory comments as parody images circulated, including one of Najib holding up the middle finger of one hand while holding a wad of cash in the other.

I cannot think of another case in the nation’s history where the attorney- general’s decision has been greeted with more skepticism.” Lim Kit Siang, senior opposition figure